Bird Paradise at Mandai

Bird Paradise is the successor to the much-loved Jurong Bird Park, which closed in January 2023 after half a century in the west of the island. The new park opened that May in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, next to the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, and it is a big step up: about 17 hectares of landscaped grounds holding roughly 3,500 birds from around 400 species, most of them in huge walk-through aviaries where you share the path with the birds rather than looking at them through wire. Each aviary recreates a real place. Heart of Africa, the largest, is modelled on Rwanda's Nyungwe Forest, with a waterfall and birds moving freely through the canopy around you. Crimson Wetlands is a South American and Caribbean marsh glowing with American flamingos, scarlet ibises and roseate spoonbills. Winged Sanctuary holds some of the rarest birds in the collection, including the Philippine eagle and more than twenty hornbill species, and Wings of Asia recreates a terraced Balinese landscape. Amazonian Jewels has toucans and cock-of-the-rock in a misty rainforest, Songs of the Forest is devoted to Southeast Asian songbirds such as the endangered straw-headed bulbul, and the Australian Outback aviary adds wallabies to the cockatoos. Penguin Cove, indoors and cold, has king, gentoo, Humboldt and rockhopper penguins swimming behind glass. Two shows run several times a day at the Sky Amphitheatre: Predators on Wings, with eagles, hawks and vultures, and Wings of the World, starring ambassador birds that came over from Jurong. It is the best family half day in the reserve that does not depend on the weather, because much of the walking is shaded and the penguin hall is a cool break.

The design is what sets Bird Paradise apart from older bird parks. The aviaries are tall enough to hold real trees and waterfalls, the paths are mostly level and shaded, and there are feeding and keeper-talk sessions spread through the day so you can time a visit to the lory feeding or the penguin talk. A complimentary in-park shuttle links the main zones, which helps with small children and older visitors, and the whole park is wheelchair accessible. Tickets are timed: after buying, you reserve an entry slot on the official Mandai website, and you need to show your ticket and ID at the gate. Re-entry is not allowed, so plan your lunch inside; there are cafes and a restaurant in the park.

A good visit takes three to four hours. Arrive at opening, when the birds are most active and the air is coolest, and walk Heart of Africa and Crimson Wetlands first, before the tour groups. Catch whichever show fits your timing (each is around twenty minutes and seating is first come, first served, so arrive ten minutes early for a good spot), then finish with Winged Sanctuary and the indoor Penguin Cove during the hottest part of the day. Bring water and a light rain layer; the walk-through aviaries are open to the weather. Photographers should bring a zoom lens for the hornbills, which sit high in the canopy.

Bird Paradise sits in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, about 30 to 40 minutes by taxi from the city centre. By public transport, take the MRT to Khatib and then the Mandai shuttle bus. Because it shares the reserve with the Singapore Zoo, River Wonders, Rainforest Wild Adventure and the Night Safari, the most efficient plan is a Mandai day: Bird Paradise in the morning, lunch at the reserve, River Wonders or the zoo in the afternoon, and the Night Safari after dark. Multi-park tickets make this cheaper than buying separately. If you remember Jurong Bird Park, note that the famous waterfall aviary and Jurong location are gone; Heart of Africa is its spiritual successor.